The Vikings announced that running back Adrian Peterson had groin surgery today and is expected to make a full recovery in about six weeks.

Here's the statement from the team:

Eden Prairie, MN (January 23, 2014) – Adrian Peterson had surgery today with Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Meyers was able to successfully repair Adrian's adductor muscle while also doing a compartmental release. Adrian is expected to make a full recovery in approximately 6 weeks.

Peterson missed two of the Vikings' final three games because of groin and foot injuries. He recovered well enough from the foot injury to play at Cincinnati is Week 16. But with his groin bothering him and the Vikings hopelessly behind, Peterson took a seat after his 11th carry early in the third quarter.

Peterson, who had already pulled out of the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career, was bothered by the groin injury through most of the second half of the 2013 season. It clearly affected him on Nov. 17 at Seattle, when he rushed for only 65 yards on 21 carries (3.1) in a 41-20 loss to the Seahawks.

Peterson, who will be 29 in March, has had surgeries in each of the past three offseasons. He had the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments repaired in his left knee after the 2011 season. Then, after rushing for 2,097 yards during his league MVP season in 2012, he had hernia surgery performed by Meyers a year ago.

Peterson lost his rushing title, but still finished with 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns on 279 carries (4.5). And even as he battled the groin injury, Peterson had a combined 67 carries for 357 yards in back-to-back overtime games against the Packers and Bears in late November and early December.

Peterson's seven-year, $96 million contract runs through 2017.